Ink for ink jet recording, ink set for ink jet recording, method for ink jet recording, ink cartridge for ink jet recording, ink jet recording apparatus and recorded article

Abstract

An ink for ink jet recording and an ink jet recording method which realize an image quality of laser printer on a plain paper in a one-pass printing mode under conditions of a volume of an ink droplet ejected being 5 to 43 Pico liter, a velocity of an ink droplet being 6 to 20 m/sec, frequency of 1 kHz and resolution of 300 dpi or more. The ink for ink jet recording is a penetrating type ink which includes (1) at least one humectant selected from glycerin, 1,3-butandiol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane, (2) colorant contained in the amount of 6% by weight or more, (3) a polyol having 8 to 11 carbon atoms and glycolether, and an anionic surfactants or non-ionic surfactants, the ink has viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more at 25° C. and a surface tension of 40 mN/m or less.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An ink for ink jet recording comprising: 
       (1) a humectant which comprises at least one substance selected from glycerin, 1,3-butanediol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (2) a colorant;  
       (3) at least one of a) apolyol having 8 to 11 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether; and  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants,  
       wherein the colorant is contained in an amount of 6% by weight or more based on the total weight of the ink, and the ink has a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more at 25° C.  
     
     
       2. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a self-dispersible colorant. 
     
     
       3. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 2 , wherein the self-dispersible colorant has a carboxyl group, a sulphone group, a carbonyl group and/or a hydroxyl group on the surface of the self-dispersible colorant. 
     
     
       4. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 2 , wherein the self-dispersible colorant has at least one hydrophilic group which is introduced by any one of diazo compound treatment, oxidization, hypochlorite treatment, sulphonation and fumic acid treatment on a surface of carbon black. 
     
     
       5. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a polymer emulsion which comprises a fine polymeric particles and a water-insoluble or poorly soluble colorant. 
     
     
       6. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the colorant is used with a polymeric dispersant. 
     
     
       7. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of the colorant is in a range of 8% by weight to 20% by weight based on the total weight of the ink. 
     
     
       8. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the humectant comprises glycerin, and at least one substance selected from 1,3-butandiol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexandiol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentandiol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane. 
     
     
       9. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 8 , wherein the self-dispersible colorant has an average particle diameter of 0.16 μm or less. 
     
     
       10. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the humectant is contained in an amount of 10% by weight to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the ink. 
     
     
       11. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the humectant to the colorant is in a range of 0.5 to 8.0. 
     
     
       12. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 11 , wherein the weight ratio of the humectant to the colorant is in a range of 3.0 to 5.0. 
     
     
       13. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the ink is in a range of 8 mPa·sec to 20 mPa·sec at 25° C. 
     
     
       14. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the a) polyols having 8 to 11 carbon atoms and the b) glycolether is a) polyols having 8 to 11 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       15. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 14 , wherein the polyol having 8 to 11 carbon atoms is selected from diols having 8 to 11 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       16. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 15 , wherein the diol having 8 to 11 carbon atoms is one of a) 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and b) 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol. 
     
     
       17. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 16 , wherein one of the a) 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and the b) 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol is 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and contains butyric ester compound in an amount of 0.05 to 1 by weight based on the weight of 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol. 
     
     
       18. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants is at least one selected from surfactants of the following formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V) and (VI): 
       
         
           R1—O—(CH 2 CH 2 O) p CH m COOM  (I)  
         
       
       in which R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m is 3 to 12, and M is alkali metal ion, quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or alkanolamine;                    
       in which R2 is a straight or branched alkyl group having 5 to 16 carbon atoms and M is alkali metal ion, quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or alkanolamine;                    
       in which R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain having 6 to 14 carbon atoms and k is 5 to 20;  
       
         
           R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n OH  (IV)  
         
       
       in which R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain having 6 to 14 carbon atoms and n is 5 to 20; and                    
       in which R′ is a hydrocarbon chain having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, m≦20 and n≦20;                   
       in which p and q are independently 0 to 40.  
     
     
       19. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the a) anionic surfactants and the b) non-ionic surfactants is contained in an amount of 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the ink. 
     
     
       20. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the ink further comprises a compound expressed by the following formula (VII): 
       
         
           HO—(CH 2 ) n —OH  (VII)  
         
       
       in which n is an integer of 5, 7 or 8.  
     
     
       21. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the ink further comprises at least one of polyols, lactams, ureas and saccharides. 
     
     
       22. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 21 , wherein the polyols are at least one selected from ethylenglycol, tetraethyleneglycol, polyethyleneglycol, tripropyleneglycol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thiodiglycol and pentaerythritol. 
     
     
       23. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 21 , wherein the lactams are at least one selected from 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone and ε-caprolactam. 
     
     
       24. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 21 , wherein the ureas are at least one selected from urea, thiourea, ethyleneurea and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone. 
     
     
       25. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 21 , wherein the saccharides are at least one selected from maltose, solbitose, gluconolacton and maltose. 
     
     
       26. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 1 , wherein the ink is used under conditions in which a volume (Mj) of one droplet of the ink is 5 pl to 43 pl, and a velocity (Vj) of the ink droplet is 6 m/sec to 20 m/sec, a frequency is 1 KHz or more, and a resolution is 300 dpi or more under one-pass printing mode. 
     
     
       27. An ink for ink jet recording comprising: 
       (1) at least one of a) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group directly bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants and b) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants via another atom group;  
       (2) at least one humectant selected from glycerin, 1,3-butandiol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (3) at least one of a) a polyols having at least 8 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether;  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants; and  
       (5) water-soluble organic solvent and water,  
       wherein the ink has a viscosity of 5 mPa·sec or more at 25° C.  
     
     
       28. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 27 , wherein the hydrophilic group comprises any one of groups selected from the groups expressed by the following formulae: 
       —COOM, —SO 3 M, —SO 2 NH 2    
       —PO 3 HM, —PO 3 M 2 , —SO 2 NHCOR  
       —NH 30   3 , —NR 30   3 ,                    
        in which M represents a hydrogen atom, alkali metal, ammonium or organic ammonium, and R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atom(s), a phenyl group which may be substituted or a naphthyl group which may be substituted.  
     
     
       29. The ink for ink jet recording according to  claim 27 , wherein the another atom group is a phenyl group which may be substituted or a naphthyl group which may be substituted. 
     
     
       30. An ink set for ink jet recording comprising a black ink and at least one color ink, in which the black ink and the color ink comprises: 
       (1) at least one humectant selected from glycerin, 1,3-butandiol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (2) a colorant;  
       (3) at least one of a) a polyols having 8 to 11 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether;  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants; and  
       (5) water-soluble organic solvent and water, wherein the colorant is contained in an amount of 6% by weight or more based on the total weight of the ink and the ink has a viscosity of 5 mPa·sec or more at 25° C., the black ink comprises a self-dispersible colorant as the colorant, and the color ink comprises a polymer emulsion comprising a fine polymeric particles and a water-insoluble or poorly soluble colorant as the colorant.  
     
     
       31. A method for ink jet recording comprising: 
       a step for ejecting ink droplets by applying energy to an ink for ink jet recording;  
       wherein the ink comprises;  
       (1) a humectant which comprises at least one substance selected from glycerin, 1,3-butanediol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (2) a colorant;  
       (3) at least one of a) a polyols having 8 to 11 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether; and  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants, and the colorant is contained in an amount of 6% by weight or more based on the total weight of the ink having a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more at 25° C.  
     
     
       32. The method for ink jet recording according to  claim 31 , wherein the energy is thermal energy. 
     
     
       33. The method for ink jet recording according to  claim 31 , wherein the energy is dynamic energy. 
     
     
       34. The method for ink jet recording according to  claim 31 , wherein the recording is performed in a one-pass printing mode under conditions of: 
       a volume (Mj) of one droplet of the ink is 5 to 43 pl, and a velocity (Vj) of the ink droplet is 6 to 20 m/sec, a frequency of 1 kHz or more and resolution of 300 dpi or more.  
     
     
       35. A method for ink jet recording comprising: 
       a step for using an ink for ink jet recording and an ink jet recording apparatus;  
       wherein the ink for ink for ink jet recording comprises;  
       (1) at least one of a) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group directly bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants and b) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants via another atom group;  
       (2) at least one humectant selected from glycerin, 1,3-butandiol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (3) at least one of a) a polyols having at least 8 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether;  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants; and  
       (5) water-soluble organic solvent and water,  
       and the ink has a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more at 25° C.; and the ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink control coating formed on a nozzle plate of a recording head installed on a main body or an ink cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus by common plating.  
     
     
       36. An ink cartridge for ink jet recording which accommodates an ink for ink jet recording, the ink for ink jet recording comprising: 
       (1) at least one of a) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group directly bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants and b) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants via another atom group;  
       (2) at least one humectant selected from glycerin, 1,3-butandiol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (3) at least one of a) a polyol having at least 8 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether;  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants; and  
       (5) water-soluble organic solvent and water,  
       wherein the ink has a viscosity of at least 5 mPa·s or more at 25° C.  
     
     
       37. The ink cartridge according to  claim 36 , further comprising an ink jet recording head for ejecting the ink for ink jet recording. 
     
     
       38. The ink cartridge according to  claim 37 , wherein the ink jet recording head has an ink control coating formed on a nozzle plate by common plating. 
     
     
       39. The ink cartridge according to  claim 37 , wherein the ink jet recording head has a nozzle diameter of 30 μm or less. 
     
     
       40. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 
       an ink cartridge for accommodating an ink for ink jet recording;  
       a recording unit having an ink jet recording head for ejecting the ink in a droplet by applying energy;  
       wherein the ink for ink jet recording comprises:  
       (1) at least one of a) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group directly bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants and b) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants via another atom group;  
       (2) at least one humectant selected from glycerin, 1,3-butandiol, triethylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (3) at least one of a) a polyols having at least 8 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether;  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants; and  
       (5) water-soluble organic solvent and water;  
       and the ink has a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more at 25° C.  
     
     
       41. The ink jet recording apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the ink jet recording head has an ink control coating formed on a nozzle plate by common plating. 
     
     
       42. The ink cartridge according to  claim 40 , wherein the ink jet recording head has a nozzle diameter of 30 μm or less. 
     
     
       43. A recorded article obtainable by using an ink for ink jet recording and an ink jet recording apparatus: wherein the ink jet recording apparatus comprises; an ink cartridge for accommodating the ink for ink jet recording; 
       a recording unit having an ink jet recording head for ejecting the ink in a droplet by applying energy; the ink for ink jet recording comprises:  
       (1) at least one of a) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group directly bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants and b) self-dispersible organic colorants having at least one hydrophilic group bonded to surfaces of the organic colorants via another atom group;  
       (2) at least one humectant selected from glycerin, 1,3-butandiol, triethyleneglycol, 1,6-hexanediol, propyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, diethyleneglycol, dipropyleneglycol, trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane;  
       (3) at least one of a) a polyols having at least 8 carbon atoms and b) a glycolether;  
       (4) at least one of a) anionic surfactants and b) non-ionic surfactants; and  
       (5) water-soluble organic solvent and water;  
       the ink has a viscosity of 5 mPa·s or more at 25° C.